BISMARCK, N.D. --- Today, Governor Doug Burgum, along
with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), North Dakota
Highway Patrol (NDHP) and the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH),
launched Vision Zero as the state’s
primary traffic safety initiative. The comprehensive, multi-agency effort’s goal
is to continually work toward zero motor vehicle fatalities and serious
injuries on North Dakota roads. Each participating agency has a lead role in
both educating the public and implementing state laws with respect to traffic
safety.

“As a state, we must continually reinvent how we think
about traffic safety -- what issues motorists are facing, what technologies
help us or distract us - and work to ensure everyone gets home alive,” said Governor
Burgum.“While
government plays a key role in traffic safety, we can’t view this as solely a
government issue, which is why the mission of Vision Zero is so important. By emphasizing the personal
responsibility to buckle up and obey the law, we reinforce that prevention is
every North Dakotan’s responsibility.”

Vision
Zero
will be implemented through various strategies, including: (1) widespread
public education/outreach, (2) working with the legislature to ensure state
laws represent best practices in traffic safety, (3) high visibility
enforcement of existing laws, (4) technology advancements, and (5)
infrastructure/road safety improvements. Along with the support and action of
these lead agencies, private sector stakeholders that share interest in traffic
safety will also be included in Vision
Zero efforts.

“There is no acceptable number of deaths on North
Dakota roads,” said NDDOT Director Tom Sorel. “In 2017, preliminary data tells
us there were 113 motor vehicle fatalities and nearly 3,300 injury crashes,
resulting in 466 people being seriously injured. It is important that we all
remember these are not just numbers. These are people killed and injured in a
motor vehicle crash. The NDDOT is proud to help spearhead Vision Zero as the framework to guide all statewide traffic safety
activity, enhance what we’ve done to-date, and ultimately save lives.”

2017 ND Top Contributing Factors in MV
fatalities

2017 ND Percentage of MV Fatalities

2016 ND Percentage of MV Fatalities

Unbelted
fatalities

61%

57%

Alcohol-related

41%

43%

Speed-related

24%

22%

“Motor vehicle crashes are among the top leading cause
of deaths in North Dakota,” said NDHP Superintendent Colonel Michael Gerhart.
“The Highway Patrol’s mission is to provide high quality law enforcement
services to keep everyone safe and secure. We risk our lives to help prevent
others from risking theirs. This is our commitment to Vision Zero. At the same time, I cannot stress enough the
importance of this effort’s emphasis on personal responsibility such as always
driving sober and distraction free, buckling up and slowing down.”

Of the motor vehicle fatalities in 2017, preliminary
crash data shows approximately 80 percent were in a passenger vehicle, 10
percent were motorcyclists, four percent were pedestrians, three percent were
individuals on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), two percent were bicyclists, and
three percent were train-related. Victims ranged in age from three years old to
90 years old and 83 percent were North Dakota residents.

“North Dakotans must take personal responsibility for
themselves and those in their care, particularly babies and young children who
need assistance with car seats or booster seats,” said State Health Officer
Mylynn Tufte. “The Department of Health’s commitment to Vision Zero is to educate, lead, provide resources and implement
policy.”

Since
2012 in North Dakota, motor vehicle crash fatalities have decreased by nearly
34 percent. The goal of
zero fatalities is not only attainable, but also vital. When it comes to
your life, or the lives of your family and friends, what other number is
acceptable? With Vision Zero, we can
all agree the only acceptable goal is zero motor vehicle fatalities because
every life matters.